Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy

 You’re likely referring not to a single-authored memoir but rather to Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy, a collection edited by Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll, published in 2019. One of the contributors—Ivy Brashear, a tenth-generation Appalachian—authored a chapter titled “Keep Your ‘Elegy’: The Appalachia I Know Is Very Much Alive.” In that essay, she critiques J.D. Vance’s portrayal in Hillbilly Elegy, arguing that his narrative erases the dignity, joy, and laughter present in Appalachian life and presents a limited, morally diminished view of the region. WTOLThe Highland County Press

While Ivy Brashear isn’t from Vance’s hometown of Middletown, Ohio, she is from Appalachia and pushes back against Vance’s blanket representation of the region—implicitly challenging his depiction of his broader roots and culture.

However, if you're specifically looking for a response written by a woman from Middletown, Ohio who critiques Vance’s failure to present his hometown more fully, that appears less likely—most available critiques come from regional or Appalachian voices rather than Middletown natives who've authored full book-length rebuttals.

That said, there are plenty of Middletown residents (women included) who have publicly voiced dissatisfaction with Hillbilly Elegy:

• Heather Gibson, a local small-business owner, criticized the memoir for casting Middletown in a terrible light—even though she doesn’t dispute the personal story, she resented how Vance turned it into a representative portrait of the city. Conservative News Daily™

• Talia Fuentes, a Middletown High School student, expressed frustration at the portrayal of Middletown as a “bad place,” pointing out the city’s creativity and diversity. Cleveland Scene

These voices, while not the authors of separate publications, articulate the community’s response to how their hometown was presented—and critique Vance’s narrative omissions.

So in summary:

• Definitive literary critique by a woman from Vance’s hometown? Not found.

• Broader Appalachian response by a female Appalachian contributor?

  • Yes—Ivy Brashear’s essay in Appalachian Reckoning directly challenges the narrative of Hillbilly Elegy. WTOLThe Highland County Press

• Voices from Middletown (women) criticizing the representation?

  • Yes—through interviews and commentary (e.g., Gibson, Fuentes), but not as standalone books. 

If you’d like, I can help you explore more from Appalachian Reckoning or find local voices from Middletown commenting in depth.